Electric head bolt heater for internal-combustion engines



INVENTOR /NOREW L. FREE MFM ATTORNEYS sept 16, 1952 A. l.. FREEMAN ELECTRIC HEAD BOLT HEATER FOR INTERNL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Jan. l2, 1951 The invention relates Patented Sept. 16, 1952 jflUIN-ITED(STATES PATENT OFFICE I A`'ELECTRIC HEAD BOLT HEATER FORr AINTERNAL--COMBUSTION ENGINES Andrew L. Freeman, Grand Forks, N. Dak.

Ynormal current source is built with the heater itself; sothat dangling wires and exposed convnec'tionsi arev eliminated.

" *Still another object of the'nvention is to prolvide a head boltl heater with a nut fixed thereon whereby it can be'easily threaded and tightened in place. I Y' Y An additional object of the invention is to provide a simple and compact structure for achieving these results.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in side elevation a head bolt heater embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough:

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the heating unit as shown comprises a porcelain arbor I having a head 2 and a hole therethrough. Wound about the arbor I is a coil of nickel chrome wire 4, or similar high resistance wire, which is held to the arbor I and insulated from a copper tube casing 5 by cement of the Sauer-Eisen type, denoted by the numeral 6.

Passing through the hole in arbor I is a wire 1 which is secured at its lower end by suitable solder to one end of the coil 4. The upper portion of the wire 'I is covered with an asbestos or other insulating material as shown at 8, which passes through a hole 9 in a sleeve or bolt I0.

the latter being threaded at II for connection to the head of a cylinder block. A similar insulated wire I2 is connected through a hole in the arbor head 2 to the other end of the coil 4.

The bolt I0 has a reduced portion at I4 which tightly ts into the copper casing and is secured thereto by a suitable solder.

application January 12, 1951, seriaiNo. 205,662

' 4 anims. (01.219-19) I 42 The/two wires 8 and I2 pass through the hole 9 Jand out the upper end thereof, the wires b'er ing sealed to the upper end of the bolt by a suitable insulating cement as'shown at I.

The upper end of sleeve Il] is threaded, as

Vshown at I 6. Threads II' and I5 are of oppo- 'site pitch, andare spaced apart by an 'unthreaded sleeve portion I 1. A nut IB is threaded on part IB.

Splined with la press t on the upper end of threaded `portion I6 is a disc l'having a circular groove in its upper face near its periphery. A cap '20 'of 'insulating material 'has its lower edge ntting in 'this groove 'and' adhesively secured therein. by a ysuitable cement. Male electricaly terminals 2l v'are c'arri'ed'by thisl cap and tol them are connected the wires 8 and I2.

When the heating device is tov beinstalled, one

4of the 'headv bolts of. the engine isV removed, and

the heater is inserted inits place. The heating element proper., that is, eoil`4 and the surrounding sleeve 5, being of less diameter than the sleeve I0, passes through the threaded hole in the block, into which threaded section II is screwed, The device can be tightened down until the unthreaded portion of the sleeve prevents further turning. Nut I1 can now be tightened down on the cylinder head. Thus the device continues to serve the normal function of the head bolt which it displaces, and at the same time serves to heat the water or other cooling fluid in the engine.

When the device is to be used, a female terminal, for instance on the end of an extension cord, is applied to male terminals 2| to connect the unit to a source of electrical current.

When the heating device is inserted in the cylinder head and the power is turned on, the units will heat the block and the liquids therein to a point to enable easy starting such as is possible in warm weather. Usually about thirty minutes are required to warm up an engine in a temperature 30 below zero. However, the time re-v quired depends upon the type of engine and the size of the cylinder block.

The unit is economical, requiring relatively little power consumption. Generally, for a 30 day period the units would require about 18 kilowatthours of power. When once heated, the engine will remain in good starting condition throughout the day, provided it is not allowed to stand in cold weather for several hours.

While I have described herein one embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit; myself thereby except within the scope of the claims hereto or hereinafter appended.

1. A heating device for internal combustion engines adapted to be inserted therein in lieu of a head bolt, comprising a metal sleeve having spaced threaded portions, an electric heating element secured on and extending from one end of the sleeve, a member xedlysecured on the other end of the sleeve, a nut threaded on the threaded portion adjacent such other end,

nected to such element extending through the sleeve to such terminals, said terminals, heating element and connections being insulated from the sleeve.

4. A heating device for internal combustion engines adapted to be inserted therein in lieu of a head bolt, comprising a metal sleeve having a threaded portion adapted to engage in a l threaded hole in the cylinder block and having electrical terminals carried by such member,

lead-in connections connected to such-element extending through the sleeveto such terminals,

trical terminals extending from the top wall of the cap, lead-in connections connected to such element extending through the sleeve to such terminals. said terminals, heating element and connections being insulated from the sleeve.

3. A- heating device for nternal combustion engines adapted to'be inserted therein in lieu of a headbolt, comprising a metal sleeve having spaced threaded portions'an electric heating ele- 4ment secured on'and extending :from one end of the sleeve, a' .disc xedly secured on the other end `of the sleeve and -having va circularl groove in its upper face, a'nut -threaded on the threaded portion Vadjacent such other. end, acap of insulating material having its ledge securedy in such groovejmale electrical terminals extending from the'top wall'of --the cap', lead-in connectionsconan electric heating element secured to the sleeve and extending a substantial distance beyond the inner end of such threaded portion, means associatedwith the other end of the sleeve adjusta- Able longitudinally thereof and spaced a substan- Vtial distance from such threaded portion to engage thecylinder head for clamping it to the blocka member fixedly secured on the sleeve above said last means, electrical terminals carried by such member, and lead-in connections connected to 'such element extending through the sleeve. to such terminals, said terminals, heating :element and connections being insulated from .thesleeve y ANDREW L. FREEMAN.

l Y REFERENCES CITED The 'following references are of record in the le of this patent:

- UNITED? s'ATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 1,455,246v Furstenau May 15, 1923 1,702,326v j' Veronneau Feb. 19, 1929 y 2,176,601 Bates- Oct. 17, 1939 Number Country Date 14,562 Great Britain n-s- June 24, 1913 

